Metra riders could face new fare hike

Metra riders walk toward their trains at the Metra Station at the South Water St. and Randolph St. stations May 11, 2012. (Antonio Perez (Chicago Tribune))

Many Metra riders could be facing another fare increase this February, just one year after digging deep for the biggest fare hike in the commuter rail line's history.

Metra's board is expected to vote Friday on a recommendation to raise the price of the popular 10-ride tickets about 11 percent, the Tribune has learned.

That would mean an increase ranging from $2.75 to $9.25 per 10-ride ticket, depending on the distance.

If approved, the increase would deprive 10-ride ticket buyers of the discount traditionally associated with the ticket. Currently, 10-ride tickets cost the equivalent of nine rides.

Word of the possible increase did not set well with riders Thursday evening.

Student Satya Shah, 24, of Rogers Park, said that if the price goes up, he'll have to consider taking the CTA from Rogers Park to downtown, even though Metra is closer to his home.

"It's going to hurt the wallet," he said of an increase. "If it works out to be cheaper, I'll take the CTA."

Customers now pay anywhere from $24.75 per 10-ride ticket for close-in Metra zones to $83.25 for the farthest communities.

Ten-ride ticket users account for about 22 percent of Metra's ridership. Customers who use monthly passes — about 57 percent of Metra's riders — and those who buy single tickets would not see their fares increase.

Metra's staff estimates the fare increase would produce $8.3 million in 2013 to help meet the agency's capital needs. Those include system improvements, maintenance and equipment.

Unveiling a proposed 2013 budget totaling $713.5 million last month, Metra officials warned that they would consider "scenarios" for raising fares up to 10 percent but did not specify any options.

Friday's recommendation comes as a result of discussions among board members and Metra staff, officials said.

Spokesman Michael Gillis said Thursday that the agency wants to use the $8.3 million in additional revenue as a match to obtain federal dollars for capital needs.

Metra needs about $7.4 billion over the next 10 years to keep the commuter rail line in what officials call a "state of good repair."

Board members contacted Thursday said they expected to have a thorough discussion of the fare increase Friday before taking action.

If the board approves the increase Friday, Metra still would need to hold a series of hearings to get public comment before the increase would get final adoption. That could come as early as Metra's Dec. 14 meeting.

Arlene Mulder, who represents suburban Cook County on the board, said she had not decided whether she would support the increase.

"I feel we need to cover our costs, but I know a lot of people who are on extraordinarily tight budgets now," said Mulder, who also is the mayor of Arlington Heights. "We can't lose sight of that."

James LaBelle, who represents Lake County, said he supported increasing the price of a 10-ride ticket to cover the cost of 91/2 rides.

He said there was "a mix" of opinions on the issue but that he was in the minority.

Paul Darley, who represents DuPage County, said the 10-ride increase was "about the least painful way to bridge the budget gap."

Metra isn't calling the 10-ride ticket hike a fare increase. Gillis said the agency considers the move a "policy change."

"The way we view it, (10-ride tickets are) a convenience, not a discount … so riders don't have to buy one-way fares as often," Gillis said.

By way of comparison, a monthly ticket is priced at the cost of 28.5 one-way fares.

It sounded like a fare increase to some riders at the Ogilvie Transportation Center, who expressed anger Thursday upon hearing that only 10-ride tickets would be hiked.

"It seems like they're almost trying to force you to do a monthly or single" ride pass, Nicole Hoffman, 30, said as she waited for a Metra train to go to her dance class in Park Ridge.

Metra's largest-ever fare increase came Feb. 1. Metra said the overall ticket hike was 25 percent, but the vast majority of riders, who use monthly passes and 10-ride tickets, saw their ticket prices increase an average of 30 percent.

After that increase, Metra officials pledged to consider regular but more modest fare increases.

If the prices of 10-ride tickets are raised, Metra will once again try to prevent riders from stockpiling them.

This time, 10-ride tickets purchased between Friday and Jan. 31, 2013, will be valid only through Feb. 28, 2013.

Joyce Harris of Des Plaines doesn't come into Chicago often but buys a 10-ride ticket to attend shows and visit the Art Institute.

The 70-year-old, on her way to see comedian Craig Ferguson perform at the Chicago Theatre, wasn't thrilled to learn that the fare for the 10-day pass might increase, but she said it still would be cheaper than driving and parking downtown.

"Nobody's ever happy about that," she said of the increase. "But I know it costs money to run the train."